Previous work from our laboratory demonstrating cross-talk between VEGF and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in primary human vestibular schwannoma and Schwann cells23 motivated us to explore cross-talk between VEGF-A and HGF in cochlear explants as a potential mechanism through which VEGF-A can cause SNHL due to VS. The gene discussed is HGF; the disease is Vestibular schwannoma.